The Reflections

This book offers a faithful English translation of An-Nazarat (‘The Reflections’) by Mustafa Lutfi al-Manfaluti, a distinguished essayist from the era of the Nahda, or the Modern Arabic Literary Renaissance in Egypt. Al-Manfaluti’s magnum opus, first published in 1910, is a rich collection of short stories, essays, and a few adapted translations, originally featured in Egypt’s al-Mu’ayyad newspaper.

With a sharp, reflective eye, al-Manfaluti captures the vibrant tapestry of life, inviting readers to explore the intricate interplay of cultural identity and the dynamic evolution of society. His works, which John A. Haywood describes as spanning the ‘whole gamut of current ethical and social problems,’ offer a glimpse into the early 20th-century Egyptian zeitgeist, touching on themes of political nationalism, pan-Islamic aspirations, and religious reform.

Al-Manfaluti’s unique, almost highbrow style, with its distinct lustre, sets his writings apart. Abdul-Sattar Jawad compares him to the Romantic essayist Lamb, noting al-Manfaluti’s use of personal reminiscences, stories, interest in the natural past, and prose poems, often reinforced with verse quotations.

Hailed as a genius in the art of literary composition and prose-writing, and a leader in pure stylistic diction, al-Manfaluti’s An-Nazarat remains a seminal work for those interested in the Middle East and the Nahda period, a melting pot of social and literary significance.

The Reluctant Imposter

Willie regrets promising to take her friend’s place at the Earl of Grenmoor’s estate in Cornwall for a few days and tries to back out, but her sense of duty holds her firm. Pretending to be someone she’s not goes against all her principles, and Willie eventually confesses her deception. Surprisingly, the earl’s grandmother accepts her confession and sets her sights on matchmaking Willie with her grandson, Lucien Barkley.

Neither Willie nor Lucien are aware of this scheme, and they don’t initially like each other. Willie, the daughter of a vicar, feels out of place among the elites, while Lucien finds her outspokenness off-putting. Despite this, Grandy is determined to bring them together. Willie repeatedly finds herself in one predicament after another, unbeknownst to the earl.

Lucien remains unaware of Willie’s deception until she unexpectedly saves his life. Sparks fly, but Willie mistakes Lucien’s admiration for humiliation and runs away. While Grandy is ready to give up, the earl is not. They clash, yet are irresistibly drawn to each other.

The Retold Story of David and Goliath

This book retells the beloved biblical story of David, the young shepherd who bravely faced and defeated the fearsome Philistine giant, Goliath. David, a boy of tremendous faith, stands alone against this enormous foe, believing in the power and might of his God, while the entire army of Israel quivers in fear.

This beautiful, triumphant story is written by Rosalind Edwards, a lover of everything biblical, and passionate about teaching children the truth of the bible and the mind-blowing power and love of God. It is written in rhyming verse to make the reading a fun, memorable, and happy event.

Reader and listener are both taken on a journey of biblical history and will see this story of faith and victory in a uniquely real and inspiring way. Children of all ages and their adults will be challenged to put their faith anew in the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Luke Edwards has once again put his wonderful artistic talent into the illustrations – capturing the real-life story of the David vs Goliath battle, in a way that will enthral and motivate the young.

The Return

The Return is a sequel to The Gatekeepers in a new series by Susan B. A. Hofmann.

Damion Tingley has returned to claim his rightful position as the most powerful Gatekeeper the underworld has ever known. His return is fraught with many unexpected setbacks. Yet he is determined to be given the coveted Gatekeeper's Robe as well as the Book of Spells and Incantations. The Gatekeeper's Robe and the Book of Spells and Incantations have been handed down to all previous Gatekeepers.

Throughout the centuries and from around the world, all the former Gatekeepers and coven heads have given the power they possessed to the Gatekeeper's Robe. All the knowledge of spells and incantations they possessed has been recorded in The Book of Spells and Incantations. These two powerful items will be given to Damion Tingley as the most powerful Gatekeeper to date.

The Rice Tree Chronicles

A friend once asked the author how many countries I had visited and what was on my bucket list, and his reply was that it wasn’t filled with things or places, but with people like “The Walnut Man” or “The Albeeno Aborigine” and the Ladyboy in “Bangkok Confidential” that he had met along the way and the stories that they shared about themselves. If anything, a little bit of luck, patience, and an ear for listening have made all the difference in seeing the world through a different set of lenses.

The richness of travel is in each footstep taken like walking el Camino de Santiago in Spain, where each day is a new adventure along an 800-kilometer trail filled with stories of personal challenge, hardships overcome, immense satisfaction, and a bookmark in the lives of people from all corners of the world.

Each story, each memoir is merely a point in time in someone’s life and the reward was having it handed to you as a gift.

The Rise and Fall of Roy Weston

Roy Weston was born into a wealthy family and raised in a big stone house on a hill overlooking the poor, coal-mining village of Brexley in North Yorkshire, England. Having nearly died of meningitis at the age of three years old, he is bullied by the kids at school until his mother pulls him out of school at the age of ten. His education from that point forward consists of what he learns himself by roaming the streets of the village in the dark and peeping through people's windows. At the age of fourteen, he watches through a window as his football hero, John Finley, attacks a pedophile, meaning to kill him. His friend leaves the building thinking he has done exactly that, but Roy enters afterward, realizes the man is still alive, and finishes the job. And so begins his life of crime.

The Road to You

In a tumultuous marriage of eight years, Lisa Curtis finds solace and passion in the embrace of a new lover. As she grapples with the torment inflicted by the man she once promised to cherish, Lisa is faced with a perilous choice: remain bound by her vows or pursue a chance at true happiness. But is her new lover genuinely offering the love and respect she craves, or is their bond merely a fiery physical attraction? As their affair escalates, boundaries are tested, loyalties are questioned, and the fate of her husband hangs in the balance. Dive into this tantalizing erotic thriller that promises twists at every turn.

The Rock in Our Story

Just when ten-year-old Maria Della Notte becomes comfortable with her surrogate mother and their surroundings she discovers an unsettling truth about her origin. Who is she? How did she get here? Why does she have a surrogate mother? Who left her in the care of a surrogate mother and why? Where did she come from? Why is she forced to leave? Can she learn to live in a new country without family or friends where language, customs and traditions are unfamiliar and intimidating? Whom can she trust? Will she ever love and be loved? Will she find answers to her endless questions?

Coming from a poverty-stricken, war-torn country, Maria quickly learns the benefits and advantages of wealth, education and her new life in a place filled with opportunity. While she is pleased with her newly acquired affluence and experiences, Maria has never been truly happy since she left her homeland. The friendship she offers at school, and the kindness she extends to some of her classmates is met with ridicule and rejection.

At every turn, Maria feels unloved, so she withdraws and buries herself in studies and extracurricular activities. She strives to be the best at every challenge put before her. Her goals stretch far beyond seeking not only to win, but to win by a landslide.

Maria is a young lady dreaming of reconnecting with her mentor, while carrying a big chip on her shoulder waiting for the right someone to gently remove it.

The Rooster who Lost His Cock a Doodle Doo

It is a beautiful day on the tiny farm in Rwanda. It is almost sunrise and Rafiki is about to awaken the people of the world. He is so proud to be the one chosen to replace his dad as alarm clock. When the exact moment the sun crests the horizon Rafiki prepares to speak. He opens his beak and hears only a squawking sound. He is devastated, humiliated and afraid of what will come next.

Rafiki runs to his father’s arms and his father tells him that the only one who can help him is the wisest of owls. This wise old owl, his dad’s best friend, lives in Oman. Rafiki is frightened. He has never left home before, and he will have to journey alone. Rafiki has no choice.

This is the only way, and the only one who can help him discover why he has lost his voice.

This is the only way he can find his lost Cock-a-Doodle-Doo.

The Rose, the Star, and the Moon

On a dark night, I found myself walking along a garden path. I gazed up at the sky, and saw the moon sharing light with everything beneath it. It had a gentle spirit, selfless, and kind. A shooting star made its way to earth, mesmerizing as it fell faster and faster. It had a rare spirit, hard to read, but breathtaking to view. A rose in the garden, petals in full bloom, showed its subtle nature. It had a conflicted spirit, unsure of whether to follow its dreams or pick the easiest path. The rose, the star, and the moon all lit a fire inside me and took my breath away, but a voice inside me told me I could pick just one to love. Which one added more fuel to the flame? Which one caused me to clutch my chest because there was no more breath inside me? Yet how can you choose which one you love best when all are equally beautiful, and all will bring you the same amount of pain?

The Salt Shack Dweller

Once the institutions of his world proved untrustworthy, a young veteran leaves college and seeks refuge in a shack beneath a condemned train bridge along the depleted and abused Salt River. Here, he encounters those society deems invisible: Natives, migrants, and discarded souls. A makeshift clan forms as curious individuals are drawn to this enigmatic figure and his humble dwelling. Among them are a compassionate female doctor, a questioning priest, a lonely flour mill guard, a seventeen-year-old girl yearning for freedom, and a disheartened judge. Even scorpions, black widows, and countless butterflies find their place. To the Salt Shack Dweller, this motley group becomes a true family.

The Scars We Bear

Two teenagers, two tales interwoven by a shared intrigue. Their distinct temperaments guide them along separate paths through a demanding chapter of youthful existence. As they confront adversities both solo and side by side, the longing for independence dances a delicate duet with the need for connection. The Scars We Bear delves into the tumultuous journey of adolescence, exploring what it truly demands not merely to navigate through it, but to flourish with resilience and newfound wisdom. Through trials and triumphs, our young protagonists unveil the essence of camaraderie and the indomitable spirit of youth in facing life’s early storms.